Tool box with built-in light



July 30, 1957 A. P. GAY 2,801,330

- TOOL BOX wrm BUILT-IN LIGHT Filed June a, 1956 Z SheetS-Sheet 1 lfi Albert P. Guy

45 INVENTOR.

BY I WW- im.

July 30, 1957 GAY 2,801,330

TOOL BOX WITH BUILT-IN LIGHT Filed June 8, 1956 F ig 4 Fig.3

Alba)! P-. Gay

' INVENTOR.

By Many 5% 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I dice 2,801,330 TooL BOX WITH BUILT-1N LIGHT Albert P. Gay, Lorain, Ohio Application June 8, 1956, Serial No. 590,156 1 Claim. Cl. 240-54 This invention comprises a novel and useful tool box with built-in light and more particularly relates to means for effectively illuminating the interior of a box or cabinet and the area surrounding the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an illuminated cabinet or receptacle such as a tool box or tackle box having an effective illuminating means associated therewith in a highly beneficial and advantageous manner. i

A further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated receptacle in accordance with the foregoing object which shall be capable of selectively illuminating both the contents of the receptacle and the area and region adjacent thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated receptacle in conformity with the foregoing objects which shall include an illuminating means compactly mounted upon the lid of the receptacle so as to not lessen the effective storage capacity thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated receptacle in accordance with the foregoing objects which will render the control of the illuminating means inaccessible to unauthorized persons and protect it against undue wear, damage and accidental use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated receptacle as set forth in the preceding objects wherein the batteries for the illuminating means are housed upon the exterior of the box whereby they will be readily accessible for inspection, servicing or replacement without the necessity for opening the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated receptacle in accordance with the above mentioned objects wherein the illuminating means will be fully enclosed and protected from the deleterious efiects of the weather and against possible damage or misuse.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device in conformity with the hereinbefore set forth objects and wherein the housing for the batteries may be conveniently and compactly located between and beneath the carrying handle of the receptacle.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool box or other receptacle incorporating therein the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the box, the housing for the batteries being raised and showing the manner in which the latter are mounted upon the lid of the receptacle;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 1 and showing the disposition of the illuminating means and the batteries and the manner in Patented July 30, 1957 which they are mounted upon the lid of the box and dis: posed in a protected housing thereon; and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the lid of the box opened and illustrating the manner in which the illuminating means and its control switch is associated with the lid of the box.

Although more specifically applied to a tool box or a fishermans tackle box, it will be understood that the illuminating means in accordance with this invention may be conveniently applied to any cabinet or receptacle having a hinged lid thereon. In accordance with the invention there is provided a box indicated generally by the numeral 10, and which is provided with a conventional top closure or lid 12, secured thereto as by a hinge 14 and provided with the customary hasp 16 by which the lid may be secured in its closed position. Conveniently, the box is provided with the customary handle 18, secured to the central portion of the top surface of the lid whereby the box is rendered portable. A

As will be best apparent from Figures 3 and 4, the undersurface of the lidof the box is provided with a cavity or recess 29 of any desired size and shape and which is provided with an opening 22 to the top surface of the lid. A light socket 24 of any desired character is secured to the top surface of the box 12, and is adapted to receive an illuminating bulb 26 which is disposed within the recess or opening 20. A protective glass pane 28, which may be in the form of a lens if desired, is secured in a frame 30 to the underside of the lid. If desired, a suitable reflector may be provided in the recess 20 for the purpose of focusing or directing the illuminating rays from the bulb 26.

As will be especially apparent from Figure 4, the frame 30 sits closely adjacent to the undersurface of the lid 12 so as to project to a minimum extent into the interior of the box, thereby rendering substantially the entire interior volume of the same available for storage or other purpose.

As shown in Figure 4, there is provided a further opening 32 through the lid, preferably closely adjacent to the recess 20, and a conventional form of electric switch 34 is disposed in this opening, having a control shaft or button 36 which extends below the lid into position for manipulation by the user of the device. It will thus be seen that the control means is housed and protected in the interior of the box when not in use, thereby preventing access to the same by unauthorized persons or the like.

In order to supply electric current to the light bulb 26, there is provided a battery preferably consisting of any desired number of dry cells 38 mounted in suitable resilient clips 40 constituting terminals and which serve to connect the proper poles of the batteries together. A pair of leads 42 and 44 connect the opposite sides of the battery in series to pair of contacts 46 of the light socket and the previously mentioned switch 34. It will thus be seen when the switch is closed, the light bulb 26 will be illuminated.

An enclosure or housing 50 is hinged to the top surface of the lid of the box 12 as at 52, and is provided with a resilient latch or catch 54 cooperating with a resilient retainer 56.

As will be best apparent from Figures 1 and 2, the housing 50 is so disposed that when the same encloses the battery, the housing will lie below the handle 18 and between the legs of the same, thereby being disposed in a compact position, and whereby the handle 18 will serve to additionally prevent opening of the housing. Thus, the battery is housed in a most compact and convient manner upon the top of the box, thereby permitting access to the batteries for the purpose of servicing or placing the same without the necessity for opening the box.

By this arrangement, when the lid of the box is open, the switch 36 may be actuated to energize the light bulb 26, thereby illuminating the interior of the box and enabling the user to find the desired tool, tackle or other article within the box without difficulty. By opening the lid to a substantially vertical position, as shown in Figure 4, the light may be caused to illuminate the area adjacent to the box. For this purpose, the device will serve such useful purposes as providing light upon the wheel of a vehicle when it is necessary to change a tire on the same, or other similar purpose. Preferably, the illuminating opening is disposed substantially at the medial or upper portion of the inside surface of the lid of the box when the latter is in its opened position as shown in Figure 4, for the purpose of illuminating the surrounding area or region adjacent to the box.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An illuminated receptacle comprising a cabinet having an open upper end with a hinged lid therefor, said lid being provided with a light emitting opening extending therethrough, a light bulb mounted in said opening and positioned for illuminating the interior of the cabinet and the area surrounding the cabinet when the lid is raised, electric dry cells mounted upon said lid upon the exterior surface thereof, means electrically connecting said dry cells and bulb including a switch mounted upon the interior surface of the lid and accessible only from the interior of said cabinet, a container comprising a casing enclosing said dry cells, said container being hinged to the exterior surface of said lid for affording access to said dry cells without exposing the contents of the cabinet, a handle hingedly secured to said lid, said handle having a pair of arms straddling said container whereby said handle may overlie and enclose said container to thereby prevent opening of the latter when said handle is in use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

